Evolution of the disc atmosphere in the X-ray binary MXB 1659-298, during its 2015-2017 outburst

We report on the evolution of the X-ray emission of the accreting neutron star (NS) low mass X-ray binary (LMXB), MXB 1659-298, during its most recent outburst in 2015-2017. We detected 60 absorption lines during the soft state (of which 21 at more than 3 $\sigma$), that disappeared in the hard state (e.g., the Fe xxv and Fe xxvi lines). The absorbing plasma is at rest, likely part of the accretion disc atmosphere. The bulk of the absorption features can be reproduced by a high column density ($log(N_H/cm^{-2})\sim23.5$) of highly ionised ($log(\xi/erg~cm~s^{-1})\sim3.8$) plasma. Its disappearance during the hard state is likely the consequence of a thermal photo-ionisation instability. MXB 1659-298's continuum emission can be described by the sum of an absorbed disk black body and its Comptonised emission, plus a black body component. The observed spectral evolution with state is in line with that typically observed in atoll and stellar mass black hole LMXB. The presence of a relativistic Fe K$\alpha$ disk-line is required during the soft state. We also tentatively detect the Fe xxii doublet, whose ratio suggests an electron density of the absorber of $n_e>10^{13} cm^{-3}$, hence, the absorber is likely located at $<7\times10^4 r_g$ from the illuminating source, well inside the Compton and outer disc radii. MXB 1659-298 is the third well monitored atoll LMXB showcasing intense Fe xxv and Fe xxvi absorption during the soft state that disappears during the hard state.Comment: MNRAS in pres

Qualitative exploration of barriers and facilitators of dental service utilization of pregnant women: A triangulation approach

Abstract Background Pregnant women are vulnerable to a wide range of oral health conditions that could be harmful to their own health and future child. Despite the usefulness of regular dental service utilization in prevention and early detection of oral diseases, it is notably low among pregnant women. In this qualitative study, we aimed to explore barriers and facilitators influencing pregnant women’s dental service utilization. Methods Using a triangulation approach, we included pregnant women (n = 22) from two public health centers, midwives (n = 8) and dentists (n = 12) from 12 other public centers in Tehran (Iran). Data was gathered through face-to-face semi-structured interviewing and focus group discussion methods. The analysis of qualitative data was performed using conventional content analysis with MAXQDA10 software. Results Reported barriers of dental service utilization among pregnant women were categorized under emerging themes: Lack of knowledge and misbelief, cost of dental care, physiological changes, fear and other psychological conditions, time constraint, dentists’ unwillingness to accept pregnant women treatment, cultural taboos and lack of interprofessional collaboration. Solutions proposed by dentists, midwives and pregnant women to improve dental care utilization during pregnancy were categorized under three themes: Provision of knowledge, financial support and establishing supportive policies. Conclusions Understanding perceived barriers of dental service utilization during pregnancy can serve as baseline information for planning and formulating appropriate oral health education, financial support, and legislations tailored for lower income pregnant women, midwives and dentists in countries with developing oral health care system

Conservation and restoration of Caspian salmon (Salmo trutta caspius) stocks in the southern Caspian

The project is funded by the CASPECO Project which is the Third Phase of the GEF supported project in the Caspian Sea region titled “The Caspian Sea: Restoring Depleted Fisheries and Consolidation of a Permanent Regional Environmental Governance Framework”, and implemented by the Iranian Fisheries Research Organization (IFRO) in partnership with four Coastal Research Centers affiliated to IFRO, Coldwater Fishes Research Centre (CFRC).The project's objective is to improve the conservation and restoration of Caspian Salmon (Salmo trutta caspius) stocks. In accordance with IUCN criteria Caspian Salmon is placed in the red list of endangered fish. In the recent decades the destruction of habitats for juveniles, reduction of genetic diversity and fish immune system were main causes of the Caspian salmon decline. Numbers of public meetings were held with participation of fishing communities’ representatives, experts, relevant local authorities and experts of the IFRO and Iranian Fisheries Organization (IFO), Iran Environment Protection Organization (IEPO), Water Resource Management (Ministry of Energy) and University senior professors, in order to create interaction and understanding of the project objectives. Educational awareness and extension program were conducted with the involvement of fisheries communities, private sector and NGO associations. The results of the project suggests that cross-sectoral coordination for sustainable fisheries can be achieved through building partnerships and enhancing communication between the environment, private, fisheries sectors and academia. Cross-sectoral cooperation through this project improved public awareness on growing risks facing Caspian Salmon from different sources including local sources (illegal fishing and over-fishing, urban wastewater, environment destruction, industrial pollutants, pollution of air and water resources), new emerging and invasive organisms, climate change, implications of the Caspian salmon population decline on economic and social affairs of the people who depend on them for their livelihood and food security and their role in fish stock protection. The project, through its capacity building, extension and educational programs and efforts to link science to management, could translate scientific findings into an action agenda for managers and policy makers that can bring an improvement in the future of the Caspian Sea salmon stock

Sperm bank creation of Caspian Sea trout (Salmo trutta caspius) breeders

The Caspian Sea trout (Salmo trutta caspius) is distributed in southern basin of the sea and the natural stocks of this fish is critically endangered. The present study was conducted through the breeding seasons of Caspian Sea trout in January 2012. Estimation of sperm male potential was carried on samples collected from a total of 12 male spawners which included 8 samples (caught 3 years ago) and 4 samples (freshly caught). Semen samples were collected after anesthetized with clove powder for 10 minutes at water temperature of 9-9.4 °C. The differences of mean semen volumes, sperm motility time, sperm density and the percentage of sperm motility from freshly caught spawners (5.5±3.4 ml, 35.5±8.7 sec, 4.3±0.7×109 ml^-1, 32.5 ± 8.5% respectively) were significantly higher than 3 years caught spawners (1.5±0.93 ml, 26.5± 2.8 sec, 1.98±1.6×109 ml^-1, 25.7±9.7 % respectively) (P0.05)